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Editorial: Smoke Detectors ‘First Line Of Defense’

Considering an ice storm that left many without power, unusually cold temperatures and the holiday season, unfortunately, it is not surprising to see an increase in the number of house fires. Winter brings us many risk factors.

That’s why we hope readers did not miss the report in the Christmas Day edition about free smoke detectors available in Sebastian County, both within and outside the city limits.

Especially, we hope they did not miss the message that smoke detectors are an important, even essential, part of keeping the family safe. Fort Smith Fire Chief Mike Richards calls smoke detectors “the first line of defense.”

Fort Smith fire marshal Tommy Bishop is passionate on the subject of smoke detectors. In 2012, the National Fire Protection Association listed Arkansas as the fifth-highest state in fire deaths per capita, a ranking that is typical for the state, Mr. Bishop discovered. Lately, he’s seen local evidence that lack of smoke detectors in homes can play a role in that.

“It seems like all the fires that have occurred lately … they’re (detectors are) either not there, or if they’re there, they aren’t working,” he told the Times Record.

Because most deadly fires occur between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., the time most people are sleeping, smoke detectors are especially important.

The result was a grant for 600 smoke detectors to give to eligible city residents. To be eligible, applicants must be homeowners, not renters. Focusing on what FEMA considers to be “high-risk citizens,” the grant is designed to help low income families, residents age 65 or older, those who live in substandard housing or mobile homes, and ADA-eligible residents to get smoke detectors for their homes.

The FEMA smoke detectors, which have a 10-year battery, must be installed by a Fort Smith firefighter.

For those who are hearing-impaired, the department also has access to special plug-in units that emit a strobe light to alert sleepers to smoke in the house.

Thanks to a donation from Home Depot, the department also has 100 smoke detectors available for Sebastian County residents. These also have a 10-year battery, but the homeowner will have to do the installation.

This is a great opportunity for area residents, and one we hope they do not ignore. The very last story we want to be reporting at this time of year is one that includes fire deaths. If you are eligible for one of these smoke detectors, please take advantage of this opportunity.

If you live outside the Sebastian County area, a variety of units with 10-year batteries is available in local stores in a range of prices from $15 to $50. That’s a small investment to increase the odds that if a fire happens, residents will know about it in time to evacuate the home safely.